Training

We are a training and teaching practice, which allows us to have GP Trainees, these are qualified doctors who wish to become GPs, they work closely with the partners in all aspects of patient care. Because we are a training practice we will often record consultations for training purposes. Giving consent for a consultation to be recorded is, of course, entirely voluntary for any patient, and written consent is obtained before and after any consultation to allow it to be used. Occasionally we also have medical students attached to the practice as part of their introductory clinical course.

Training Information for Potential Learners Within The Practice

Alchester Medical Group is a well established training practice. There are currently 2 trainers, Helena Doucas and Esther Hill.

Esther Hill completed the certificate in Medical Education from Warwick University in 2009.

She have previously worked as an assistant course organiser for the Banbury VTS training programme. Part of her role was to help teach varying aspects of the new general practice curriculum. She was also involved in the planning and preparation of trainees for mock assessments such as the written assessment called the AKT (Applied Knowledge Test) and clinical assessments such as the CSA (Clinical Simulated Assessment) which are now compulsory components to attain the MRCGP. She has also worked as an external mentor on the General Practice Nurse Foundation Programme for the NHS Education South Central. She was appointed as an External Mentor to a training nurse in order to provide education support, both theoretically and practical knowledge and a confidential support network.

In addition she have assisted with the introduction of an F2 doctor in a non-training General Practice. Whilst she was a partner in Derbyshire she was involved in supervising graduate entry medical students from Nottingham University, whilst attending their attachment in General Practice. She has supervised GP Trainees from the Banbury VTS and medical students from the University of Oxford.

Dr Hill has recently been appointed as a GP Tutor for Lincoln College, Oxford.

We are part of the Banbury training scheme within the Oxford deanery. We endorse the aim of the scheme to provide excellent learner centred education in an Oxford Radcliffe linked DGH with first-rate GP training practices. In addition to protected learning time with a program of tutorials negotiated as to the relevant learning needs of the individual, we are extremely keen that the learner becomes as involved as possible in the everyday running of the practice and also he/she is very welcome to participate in the coffee room chat where every day issues which crop up are discussed and chewed over - in medicine and beyond. The wider practice team staff greatly value the presence of fresh doctors within the practice. Over the years we have increasingly learnt that the training experience works best by challenging the registrasr/F2s, but within a appropriately supportive learning environment such that patient safety is assured. A high emphasis is put on the use of videoing consultations as a means of teaching consultation skills. We attempt to see change as opportunity rather than threat. Above and beyond all we hope to show that general practice should be both interesting and fun, although this is put in the context of the very sad situations with which we unfortunately sometimes need to deal.

If any further information is required then please feel free to contact Helena or Esther. Informal visits can be arranged, and we would also be happy to put you in touch with past or present learners if that would be helpful.